EPC Can't be Right When it's Wrong

bteetotal

I have had 2 Energy Performance Certificates to my flat and came out with a good score rating. I queried it and again came out with a high rating. The problem is I didnt have central heating, hot water, place is full of damp and mould, boiler electrics don't work as one of the many leaks damaged it. Property so ventilated it is sometimes colder than outside, as Surveyor indicated 10 degrees lower in some places as property not insulated. The insulation is wet and the numerous holes that the Landlord keeps putting in the wall is effecting the efficiency of the property. The Assessor said that the rating is high because if I had my boiler working that is what the rating would be. Now this has to be wrong. He claimed my bills over a three year period would be £1300 but I paid that and above for years. 

Now two fold issue.  It wrongly depicts the Energy Efficiency of the property but have no one to report it to as it seems to be the norm . Secondly with such a high rating I cannot get any help to get energy efficiency measures, help with electricity bills, boiler internal insulation etc.  I have been left for over two years, my first living with candles and saw in 2023 with another leak.  Any advice

sevenhills

Mould and damp could be down to water ingress, so that has nothing to do with insulation.

bteetotal

That too .  Water ingress internally due to over 40 leaks, 30 sewage but also the external wall is breeding mould. For the past year  Every couple of weeks I'm seeing big holes appearing on the wall right up to the internal brick and directly  inside of the property it's damp and mouldy.  On the other side had neighbours who poured stuff over that damaged the fabric of the building mould appearing again.  

anselld

Building defects and maintenance issues are nothing to do with the EPC.
If you have reported serious maintenance issues which the Landlord is failing to address then invite an inspection by Environmental Health who can take further enforcement action as necessary.

housebuyer143

Epcs are a tick box exercise. I could rip out all my heating tomorrow and I don't need a new one as it's valid for years. 
Focus on getting the issues fixed rather than pursuing an incorrect EPC. 

HampshireH

I'm confused by this post.

As a tenant surely you wouldn't be able to get any help with these things anyway as you aren't the homeowner. There would be no expectation for you to do the works either.

The landlord would be the one who would claim (if Inclined to do so)

But if you are a tenant why did you live without heating for so long 

Or are you a leaseholder with a property needing modernisation internally with a freeholder who is responsible for the building (leaving you responsible for your demised premises including the loft)?

sourpuss2021

HampshireH said:

I'm confused by this post.

As a tenant surely you wouldn't be able to get any help with these things anyway as you aren't the homeowner. There would be no expectation for you to do the works either.

The landlord would be the one who would claim (if Inclined to do so)

But if you are a tenant why did you live without heating for so long 

Or are you a leaseholder with a property needing modernisation internally with a freeholder who is responsible for the building (leaving you responsible for your demised premises including the loft)?

Tenants can indeed apply for the help, so long as they are on means assessed benefits.  

ProDave

If it is so bad why have you not looked for a better rental to move to?

propertyrental

Are you in fact a tenant? Leaseholder? or what?

But either way, EPCs are not a substitute for surveys (if buying), nor an indication of the repair state of the property.

What you are describing is repairing /maintenance issues, and depending on whether you are a tenant or home owner these should be addressed as such. Not sure why you thought getting an EPC (or two!) done was relevant.

EssexHebridean

As a bit of a guideline on how variable EPCs can be, I've just been doing some comparisons after having ours done and coming our with a ludicrously high "primary energy use" figure. There are 6 identical flats in our block. They all have EPC's of various ages. Across the 6 flats there are 5 entirely different floor area sizes given (ranging from 51sqm through to over 70!) and the energy use figures range from 210kWh/Sqm through to 357kWh/Sqm. 

bteetotal

Hi everyone. I am in fact a Leaseholder of a social rented landlord.   The Landlord has ignored my plight on numerous occasions and getting legal help is non existent. The EPC's were done in order to sell the property at first but I became ill with the large number of leaks that effected me. I attempted to get the building insurance to sort things out but the first episode they closed my case and the next claimed that the the Landlord failed to pass on my claim.   Unfortunately I am on benefits, with no savings no way of getting a loan, no where to go. I have had to use my benefit for repairs.   Because I am a leaseholder the CAB in the area will not assist.  Catch 22.   So I approached Utility Company etc for assistance and was told that I could not get help because the EPC rating was high.and noone would attend my property to prove other wise